A Michigan militia was plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat who has come under fire from President Donald Trump , according to the FBI .

Defendants Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to court documents. The domestic terrorism investigation involved both confidential informants and undercover employees who recorded conversations, texts, online chats and phone calls with the defendants.

In an affidavit, an FBI agent wrote that the bureau learned through social media in early 2020 that a group was discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components. At a meeting in June, defendants Fox and Croft allegedly met with about 13 others in Dublin, Ohio, where they discussed creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient. Several members of the group talked about murdering tyrants or taking a sitting governor.

Fox then reached out to a Michigan militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen, which was already on the FBIs radar after a local police department said the group was trying to get addresses of local law enforcement officers. One of the members of that militia group was interviewed by the FBI and agreed to become an FBI informant because they were concerned about the groups plans to target and kill police officers, according to the affidavit.

In June, Fox met with defendant Garbin at a rally supporting the Second Amendment at the Michigan State Capitol, where Fox allegedly told Garbin and one of the informants that he planned to attack the Capitol.